Crucibulum - Bird's Nest Fungi

Bird's Nest Fungi  - October 2011

Received two photographs of Common Bird's Nest - Crucibulum laeve taken in Ely, Cambridgeshire.

Full description and acknowledgement given on fungiworld.

What is Bird's Nest Fungi?

A fungi in which the spores develop in small egg-like baskets better known as (peridioles).

There are several types: namely

Common Bird's Nest  Crucibulum laeve, which can be viewed on Browse 4 of fungiworld.

Fluted Bird's Nest  Cyathus striatus

Field Bird's Nest  Cyanthus olla

and

Nidularia deformis

A return to Scotland - October 2011

A return to Scotland - October 2011

Returned to Scotland for the second time in eight weeks.  Should have been bird-watching in Majorca with Chris but due to previous mentioned sadness (see August blog) this could no longer be the case.  I couldn't bare to stay at home so my kind friends invited me to stay with them.  Still numb from events I set off once again.

A marathon railway journey (nine hours) due to Saturday engineering works.  When I got to York the train took a massive detour to Carlisle instead of the east coast route up to Edinburgh.  This little tour took 1.5 hours but the bonus was new territory for me and stunning views.  Once in Edinburgh the train stopped for a further 30 minutes before setting off again for Aberdeen, allowing us to stretch our legs and smokers were directed to 'smokers corner'!.  Different anyway.

On the outskirts of the golf course at Letham Grange I stumbled across Lyophyllum connatum.  Very petite and a very swollen base of stem.  Pure white, cap, stem and gills, and in groups amongst leaf litter.   

Again on the edge of the golf course in deep lush grass I found what might be Clavulinopsis 
luteoalba.  Not 100% percent certain, but it did have pale white tips with an egg yellow body.  They were scattered around in little groups.

These can now be viewed on Browse 4.

Magic Mushrooms and Psilocybin Research News February 2012

What is Psilocybin?

Psilocybin is a naturally occurring psychedelic substance found in some mushrooms known as psilocybin mushrooms.  The most common known is the Magic Mushroom, (Liberty Cap) (Psilocybe semilanceata). 

Possession of this mushroom in all forms has been illegal since 1985.  This mushroom is classed as poisonous, due to its hallucinogenic properties and the symptoms can be enduring and persistent.  Once ingested, psilocybin is rapidly metabolized to psilocin which then acts on serotonin receptors in the brain.  Magic Mushrooms are the most commonly known of this group but others containing Psilocybin include Psilocybe crobula and Psilocybe azurescens amongst others.

An interesting article has appeared in The Guardian (see below) which explains more about the effects of psilocybin on the brain and funding that has been secured to research further if Psilocybe can help with the condition of depression.

http://m.guardian.co.uk/science/2012/feb/06/magic-mushrooms-law-war-drugs?cat=science&type=article

Stoney Wood , Derbyshire, September 2011

Stoney Wood, Near Wirksworth, Derbyshire September 2011

My web designer for Fungiworld and friend Craig, offered to take me out for the day.

Without Chris, I am a little restricted for reasons of personal safety, and don't feel inclined to fungi hunt in remote woods or areas, so was eager to have a day out.  Besides which it would raise my spirits.  A pleasant, sunny day, so off we set.

Stoney Wood being very small on the outskirts of Wirksworth, Derbyshire.  Located on the edge of  abandoned quarries previously mined for Derbyshire Stone.  The first fungus I spotted in tall grass and moss I think is Hygrocybe Virginea (Snowy Wax Cap).  Pure white, waxy texture, with a slight twist in the stem.  Growing in small groups. 

We started to follow a gravel path and before long realised were were on the edge of a huge dis-used quarry.  Climbed over a big gate to see if there were any fungi on the edge of this huge area.  Walked about 100 meters and found an unexpected sight.    A deep quarry filled with vivid bright blue water, yet the sky was not vivid blue!  It would have not looked out of place in the tropics.  A white car in the distance, started to make its way towards us.  A lady got out and told us we should not be on the quarry land.  Her job was to make sure people did not go down to the quarry and be tempted to dive in or swim.  We explained that we would not go near and were just looking for mushrooms.  A lady doing a very good job.  She never took her eyes off us.  Also she explained that no matter what the weather, or the season, and even on dull Winter days the water was always vivid blue.  An American rock band had apparently filmed a video there.  We took lovely photographs and left.

Made our way back to Stoney Wood for a picnic.  I searched in more grass and found two Clavaria (White Spindles).   Two lovely little fungi - white,  the larger one being about 6 cm tall with a club-like tip and the smaller one being only 2 cm tall and narrow and slender.  My first white Clavaria having previously seen yellow.

A good day out, my spirits lifted slightly and I won't forget that Blue Lagoon in a hurry.

These fungi can now be viewed on Browse 4.

Laccaria amethystea and Giant Puffball (Calvatia gigantea)

Arbroath, Scotland, August 2011

Still in Scotland with my friends and extremely grateful for their company and fabulous hospitality.  I felt safe. Also indebted to them for allowing me to shed tears whenever, and wherever I needed to. And for accepting my zombie like state and aimless wanderings.  

Whilst out 'wandering' around the edge of the golf course amongst broad leaf and conifer trees,  I came across a small group of Laccaria amethystea.  The depth of the deep purple colour was impressive. Especially as cap, gills and stem are all such a deep colour.  My photography that day was definitely not at its best and the photo is not as clear as I would have liked - the lighting was bad and the location was difficult and I got stung quite badly by nettles.

September 2011 

Calvatia gigantea - Giant Puffball.  A first for me.  Was tramping around the Nottingham University campus early one morning when I came across two Giant Puffballs.  One young and one mature growing near to each other.  Unfortunately for me, they were surrounded by huge nettles, but I managed to photograph both.  The mature one being larger than a football but still not as big as it could be.  I couldn't resist trying to pick it up to test the weight.  Of course it was lighter than expected and the texture being cork like.  Did not lift it much as didn't wish to damage it.  I could not help wondering just how many people a Giant Puffball would feed!

These pictures can now be viewed on Browse 4.

Scotland and Macrolepiota procera August 2011

Late August 2011


Devastated and grieving I decided to take solace with friends in Scotland.  (For reason why please read previous blog dated 3rd August 2011).  I spent a few days wandering around alone in deep pain half looking for fungi.   As a distraction I was very kindly taken to St. Cyrus National Nature Reserve near Montrose, Angus.

"The St Cyrus National Nature Reserve is situated between the village of St Cyrus and the sea. Thus it supports beach, dune, grassland and cliff environments – all of which are essential to the many creatures that live here. The cliffs serve as a breeding ground for terns and fulmars, while both the cliffs and dunes support an interesting number of plants – many of which are southern species. Other birds found here include stonechats and skylarks. The reserve also serves to protect the estuary-like habitat at the Esk River mouth."  Extract taken from The St Cyrus Website.

Near to the entrance of the Nature Reserve Visitors Centre, amongst tall grass was a solitary Macrolepiota procera (Field Parasol).  Could not believe my eyes.  I had been searching for the Field Parasol for the past eighteen months with Chris but no such luck.   Before my eyes was the most perfect and beautiful fungus. The size astounded me.  The stem being at least 1 foot tall and the cap the size of a decent dinner plate. The dark brown scales nicely covering the umbo.  The double superior moveable ring was impressive, so thick and huge,  resting on the distinctive patterned stem.  Amazingly,  around the corner I stumbled upon at least six more forming a circle in grass outside the Ice House.  All at their splendid prime and I managed to take some lovely photographs of the cap, gill, ring and stem.  So, so sad that I could not share this discovery with Chris.

These photographs can now be viewed on Browse 4.

 

Fungiworld back on-line and Pholiota flammans

I am very relieved that Fungiworld is now back on-line after a 15 day absence due to a huge surge in visitors.   I have now purchased an unlimited bandwidth package so all should be well from now on.  

Blidworth Wood, Nottinghamshire, July 2011

Blidworth Wood lies in the southern section of Sherwood Forest and consists of pines and broad-leaf trees.

Decided to try this wood as a change from my usual Samson Wood which is located very close by.

Half buried under pine needles and which was nearly missed - was a Pholiota flammans.  Very bright yellow scaly cap as well as the stem. The ring being difficult to see.  Having found a Pholiota squarrosa previously in Scotland several years ago I had always been on the lookout for a flammans.  It did not disappoint, this small, solitary, bright yellow fungus.

This can now be viewed on Browse 4.